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March 4 Timetables Include Additional Train Service
Many LIRR customers will find good news in the new train schedules that go into effect on March 4. The new timetables include additional and
restored peak service on the Long Beach, Montauk, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branches.
Service to Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn will be extended to 2 AM in response to requests for more service after events at the nearby Barclays Center. On the Ronkonkoma Branch, three new westbound trains will be added to the schedule from Farmingdale to Penn Station between 10 AM and 12 noon on weekdays. This will result in half-hourly service in the midday time period. Between Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal eight additional trains will result in half-hourly service in both directions and service until 2 AM will be restored.
On the Montauk Branch three trains will be added to the evening schedule and the 4:30 PM train from Hunterspoint Avenue to Montauk will be restored to operate weekdays. The 5:12 PM train from Hunterspoint Avenue to Port Jefferson will be restored. On the Long Beach Branch the 6:09 AM train from Long Beach to Atlantic Terminal and the 5:40 PM train from Atlantic Terminal to Long Beach will both be restored. There will also be off-peak and weekend schedule revisions because of track work. We’ll include further details in the February TrainTalk.

 

Ronkonkoma Double Track Project Information Centers Open
One of the LIRR’s major future capital projects is the installation of a second electrified track on the Ronkonkoma Branch between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma within the existing right-of-way. When completed, our Ronkonkoma customers can look forward to improved service and reliability.
The project is expected to spur economic activity, provide hundreds of construction jobs and improve Ronkonkoma Branch railroad service as well as service to Long Island MacArthur Airport. In order to inform the public on details of the upcoming work there will be two Double Track Project Information Centers open this month in Ronkonkoma and in Farmingdale. The Information Center hours will be as follows:

Ronkonkoma Station Information Center:
January 16 12 PM – 8 PM
January 17 6 AM – 8 PM
January 18 6 AM – 2 PM
January 19 10 AM – 2 PM

Farmingdale Station Information Center:
January 23 10 AM – 8 PM
January 24 7 AM – 7 PM
January 25 7 AM – 3 PM
January 26 10 AM – 2 PM

LIRR customers and the general public are welcome to stop by and learn about this very important project. For further details go to mta.info/lirr/doubletrack.

 

Good News for LIRR Customers
Congress not only avoided the “fiscal cliff” earlier this month but also brought some good news to Long Island Rail Road customers. The new fiscal measure increases the amount that mass transit commuters are allowed to set aside in their pretax commuter accounts to $245 per month for 2013, up from $240 per month for tax year 2012 (the legislation provided a retroactive increase from the $125 limit that had been in place). Current enrollees should contact the workplace administrator of their transit benefit program for assistance in modifying this deduction. For a list of providers, see: mta.info/mta/farebenefits. If you are interested in more information, visit: transitsolutions.org or call Transit Solutions at 516-242-8121.

 

Bridge Modernization Work Affects Montauk Branch
Buses replace train service east of Speonk from January 15 through January 18 due to several bridge modernization projects. During the work, which begins at 2 AM, January 15 and continues through 2:30 AM, January 18, westbound customers will board buses at their stations, Montauk through Westhampton, then board trains at Speonk to complete their trips. Westbound buses will depart 40 minutes earlier than regular train time. Eastbound customers will board buses at Speonk for travel to stations Westhampton to Montauk and should expect up to 40 minutes additional travel time.

 

NYC Getaways
The LIRR has two new New York City one-day getaways to brighten up your winter days. For folks who enjoy a day checking out the City’s museums, two getaways should pique your interest. There’s the new Museum of Moving Image Getaway where you can enjoy the country’s only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique and technology of the moving image in all its forms including an engaging, highly interactive core exhibition. The LIRR discount package includes up to 32% savings. A visit to the greatest collection of modern art in the world, according to the New York Times, is what you’re in for on the LIRR’s Museum of Modern Art Getaway. Six floors of art galleries include art from such masters as Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse and Warhol. The LIRR discount package includes up to 37% savings. Baseball fans will perk up to the new New York Yankees Behind-the-Scenes Tour. This tour, presented by MasterCard, includes visits to Monument Park, the New York Yankees Museum presented by Bank of America, the MasterCard Batter’s Eye Café and Press Box.
And, in case you missed it the first time around or want to re-visit, there’s Harry Potter: The Exhibition. There are over 200 authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films, including some newly added never-beforeseen artifacts from the epic series finale. The LIRR’s Discovery Times Square discount package includes up to 46% savings on this great getaway. For further information see One-Day Getaways or call 511 and say LIRR, then “Group Travel.”

 

December OTP
December (2012) overall on-time performance was 92.85%.

Monthly OTP BRANCH	AM Peak	PM Peak	Off- Peak	Total December 2012	Total December 2011
Babylon	93.6%	86.5%	93.9%	92.8%	95.6%
Far Rockaway	93.0%	87.8%	96.5%	95.2%	98.1%
Hicks/Huntington	90.2%	85.1%	91.6%	90.6%	94.6%
Hempstead	92.5%	97.1%	97.4%	96.8%	98.2%
Long Beach	91.0%	92.5%	96.4%	95.4%	98.1%
Montauk	94.4%	85.8%	94.3%	93.5%	93.8%
Oyster Bay	91.1%	90.8%	93.9%	93.1%	95.7%
Port Jeff	85.6%	72.1%	89.7%	86.9%	90.4%
Port Washington	89.4%	87.6%	95.5%	93.6%	98.2%
Greenpt/Ronkonk	87.0%	92.5%	89.5%	89.5%	94.2%
West Hempstead	94.0%	85.8%	96.9%	94.2%	97.6%
TOTAL	91.0%	87.9%	94.0%	92.9%	96.0%

 

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